Woman, Dancer, SelfBallet as Transcendence
by Julia Jones
Simone de Beauvoir, The Second Sex
➢ Dualisms○ Mind/body, self/other,
transcendence/immanence➢ Gender roles hold women back
from intellectual pursuits.➢ “Humanity is divided into two
classes of individuals whose clothes, faces, bodies, smiles, gaits, interests, and occupations are manifestly different.”
Can classical ballet be transcendent for women?
Looking at classical ballet with a “feminist” lens
Gender roles➢ Dress➢ Gait➢ Body➢ Pax de deux
Disparities➢ Choreography➢ Race
Dress
Body
Gretchen Ward Warren, Classical Ballet Technique, 1990
Choreography➢ Women are vastly
underrepresented among choreographers
➢ Margaret Fuhrer, Pointe: “Seen, Not Heard,” published 2012○ By the 1960s, companies became
more established and men took the lead
○ Fewer than 10 percent of works by major companies in the summer season of 2012 were choreographed by women
Choreography
George Balanchine (1904-1983)“Man is a better cook, a better painter, a better musician, composer. Everything is man—sports—everything. Man is stronger, faster. Why? Because we have muscles and we’re made that way. And woman accepts this. It is her business to accept. She knows what’s beautiful. Men are great poets, because they have to write beautiful poetry for women. You see, man is the servant—a good servant.
In ballet, however, woman is first. Everywhere else man is first. But in ballet, it’s the woman. All my life I have dedicated my art to her.”
Race
➢ Joselli Deans and Anjali Austin, “Where are all the black ballet dancers in America?”
➢ Dance Theatre of Harlem○ Founded by Arthur Mitchell
and Karel Shook in 1969○ Company went on hiatus in
2004 due to financial problems○ Have since restarted and are
touring!➢ Ballethnic
Beverley Jones (1936- )“Since women in great measure are ruled by the fear of physical force, they must learn to protect themselves. Women who are able ought to organize and enroll their daughters in such courses. Compare the benefits young girls would derive from such courses with those they attain from endless years of ballet. as an extra added goodie, we could spare ourselves the agony of those totally untalented recitals, and later, the sleepless night worrying about our daughters’ safety.” - 1968
Ballet’s feminist roots
Marie Camargo (1710-1770)
The feminist aspects of ballet
➢ In some ways, ballet breaks gender stereotypes
➢ Ballet dancers as experts➢ Requires skill and strength➢ Combines art and exercise➢ Control of the body and
mind➢ Provides a space for
resistance and refuge